Electronic device

Abstract

An electronic device adapted to cooperate with a stylus is provided. The electronic device includes a display panel, a touch module, and a processor. The display panel has a display area, the touch module has a touchable area, and the processor is electrically connected to the display panel and the touch module. The processor defines at least one active input area in the touchable area in response to an operation of the stylus. When the touch module detects that the stylus is close to the active input area, the processor switches the active input area to a stylus mode and displays a range marking pattern in the active input area.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to an electronic device used in conjunction with a stylus. Background Technology

[0002] As laptops become increasingly popular, large touchpads are becoming a new trend, enhancing user convenience. In addition to providing large touchpads, support for writing and stylus input also offers more diverse input methods.

[0003] When a stylus is used to draw or write on a touchpad that supports writing functions, the image is simultaneously projected onto the screen. However, the touchpad's stylus-enabled input area is fixed in position and size, which cannot accommodate different users' hand preferences and drawing habits, making it difficult for users to operate with ease. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this application is to provide an electronic device suitable for use with a stylus. The electronic device includes a display panel, a touch module, and a processor. The display panel has a display area, the touch module has a touchable area, and the processor is electrically connected to the display panel and the touch module. The processor defines at least one valid input area within the touchable area that responds to the operation of the stylus. When the touch module detects that the stylus is close to the valid input area, the processor switches the valid input area to a stylus mode and displays a range indicator pattern within the valid input area.

[0005] In summary, this application can adjust the position of the effective input area of ​​the stylus by detecting the position of the stylus and switching the stylus function detection mode according to the user's needs. This makes the adjustment of the effective input area more flexible, so that a more convenient layout can be provided when the user uses the stylus, and the location of the effective input area on the touch module can be clearly marked.

[0006] The other effects and embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0007] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0008] Figure 1 This is a block diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0009] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the display state of an electronic device according to an embodiment of this application;

[0010] Figures 3A to 3C These are schematic diagrams of an electronic device using a rectangular marking pattern according to an embodiment of this application;

[0011] Figures 4A to 4C These are schematic diagrams of an electronic device using corner marker patterns according to an embodiment of this application;

[0012] Figures 5A to 5C These are schematic diagrams of an electronic device using line segment marking patterns according to an embodiment of this application;

[0013] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of an electronic device that presents a setting interface according to an embodiment of this application;

[0014] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of an electronic device for setting a full-screen mode via a setting interface according to an embodiment of this application;

[0015] Figure 8A This is a schematic diagram of an electronic device that enables stylus function in full-screen mode according to an embodiment of this application;

[0016] Figure 8B This is a schematic diagram of an electronic device in full-screen mode without the stylus function enabled according to an embodiment of this application;

[0017] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of an electronic device for setting a lock mode via a setting interface according to an embodiment of this application;

[0018] Figure 10A This is a schematic diagram of an electronic device that enables stylus function in locked mode according to an embodiment of this application;

[0019] Figure 10B This is a schematic diagram of an electronic device in locked mode with the stylus function disabled according to an embodiment of this application;

[0020] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of an electronic device for setting an automatic mode via a setting interface according to an embodiment of this application;

[0021] Figure 12A This is a schematic diagram of an electronic device that enables the stylus function of the left-side effective input area in automatic mode according to an embodiment of this application;

[0022] Figure 12B This is a schematic diagram of an electronic device that enables the stylus function of the right-side valid input area in automatic mode according to an embodiment of this application;

[0023] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the system architecture of an electronic device according to an embodiment of this application;

[0024] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the process of enabling the stylus function in an electronic device according to an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0025] In the embodiments described below, the positional relationships include: up, down, left, and right. Unless otherwise specified, they are all based on the direction shown by the components in the diagram.

[0026] Please also refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, an electronic device 10 is adapted to work with a stylus 18. The electronic device 10 includes a display panel 12, a touch module 14, and a processor 16. In one embodiment, the display panel 12 has a display area 121, the touch module 14 is a touchpad and has a touchable area 141, and the processor 16 is electrically connected to the display panel 12 and the touch module 14. The processor 16 defines at least one valid input area 20 within the touchable area 141 that responds to the operation of the stylus 18. When the touch module 14 detects that the stylus 18 is close, the processor 16 switches the corresponding valid input area 20 to stylus function, and the processor 16 controls the touch module 18 to light up a range indicator pattern 22 of the corresponding enabled valid input area 20. This range indicator pattern 22 serves as the boundary of the valid input area 20, providing the user with a clear and defined input range for the stylus 18.

[0027] The touch module 14 further includes a touch integrated circuit (Touch IC) 142 and a backlight module 143. The touch integrated circuit 142 is electrically connected to the backlight module 143, so that the touch integrated circuit 142 controls the lighting of a specific position of the backlight module 143 according to the control command of the processor 16, so that the part of the backlight module 143 corresponding to the above-mentioned effective input area 20 can be lit to display the range marking pattern 22.

[0028] In one embodiment, the electronic device 10 may be a laptop computer, and the touch module 14 may be any input module that supports writing input, in addition to a touchpad. This application is not limited to this.

[0029] In one embodiment, the processor 16 may further define multiple valid input areas 20 within the touchable area 141. Taking three valid input areas 20 as an example, each valid input area 20 corresponds to a range indicator pattern 22. When one of the valid input areas 20 is enabled, the corresponding range indicator pattern 22 will also be lit to indicate the location of the enabled valid input area 20, thereby indicating the effective range that the stylus 18 can use.

[0030] The range indicator pattern 22 located on the touch module 14 can be any shape or line segment that can indicate a position or range. In this embodiment, the range indicator pattern 22 can be a rectangular indicator pattern 221, a four-corner indicator pattern 222, or a line segment indicator pattern 223. Figure 3A As shown, the range indicator pattern 22 is a rectangular indicator pattern 221. When the effective input area 20 is located to the left of the touchable area 141 of the touch module 14, the rectangular indicator pattern 221 corresponds to the effective input area 20 and is located to the left of the effective input area 20, surrounding the effective input area 20. Figure 3B As shown, when the effective input area 20 is located in the middle of the touchable area 141 of the touch module 14, the rectangular marker pattern 221 corresponds to the effective input area 20, is located in the middle, and surrounds the effective input area 20. Figure 3C As shown, when the effective input area 20 is located to the right of the touchable area 141 of the touch module 14, the rectangular marking pattern 221 corresponds to the effective input area 20 and is located to the right and surrounds the effective input area 20.

[0031] like Figure 4A As shown, the range indicator pattern 22 is a four-corner indicator pattern 222. When the effective input area 20 is located on the left side of the touchable area 141 of the touch module 14, the four-corner indicator pattern 222 corresponds to the effective input area 20 and is located on the left side and at the four corners of the effective input area 20. Figure 4B As shown, when the effective input area 20 is located in the middle of the touchable area 141 of the touch module 14, the four corner markers 222 correspond to the effective input area 20 and are located in the middle and at the four corners of the effective input area 20. Figure 4C As shown, when the effective input area 20 is located on the right side of the touchable area 141 of the touch module 14, the four corner marking patterns 222 correspond to the effective input area 20 and are located on the right side and at the four corners of the effective input area 20.

[0032] like Figure 5AAs shown, the range indicator pattern 22 is a line segment indicator pattern 223. When the effective input area 20 is located to the left of the touchable area 141 of the touch module 14, the line segment indicator pattern 223 corresponds to the effective input area 20 and is located to the left and on one side of the effective input area 20. Figure 5B As shown, when the effective input area 20 is located in the middle of the touchable area 141 of the touch module 14, the line segment marker pattern 223 corresponds to the effective input area 20 and is located in the middle and on one side of the effective input area 20. Figure 5C As shown, when the effective input area 20 is located to the right of the touchable area 141 of the touch module 14, the line segment mark pattern 223 corresponds to the effective input area 20 and is located to the right and on one side of the effective input area 20.

[0033] In the following embodiments, this application uses a rectangular marking pattern 221 as the range marking pattern 22, but this application is not limited thereto.

[0034] In one embodiment, the touch module 14 provides multiple detection modes for the stylus 18. In one embodiment, the detection mode is a full-screen mode, a locked mode, or an automatic mode.

[0035] In one embodiment, please also refer to Figure 1 and Figure 6 As shown, the processor 16 can also provide a setting interface 24, which is displayed on the display area 121 of the display panel 12 for users to set functions, including detection mode and range indicator pattern. The setting interface 24 is executed by an application to open the setting interface 24 for relevant settings. When the user selects the detection mode and range indicator pattern option through the setting interface 24, the setting interface 24 generates a setting request signal to the processor 16. The processor 16 receives this setting request signal and, according to the setting request signal, sets and stores the selected detection mode and range indicator pattern accordingly.

[0036] In the setting interface 24, when the detection mode is set to the locked mode, the user can also set the location of the valid input area 20 to be on the left, middle or right side, so that the processor 16 can set and store the selected detection mode, range indicator pattern and the location of the valid input area 20 at the same time according to the setting request signal.

[0037] Please also refer to Figure 1 and Figure 7As shown, the user sets the detection mode to full-area mode through the settings interface 24 and selects a rectangular marker pattern as the range indicator pattern 22. At this time, the effective input area 20 is equivalent to the entire touchable area 141. After the processor 16 has set the detection mode to full-area mode, as... Figure 8A As shown, when the stylus 18 enters any position within the sensing range of the touch module 14, the processor 16 activates the valid input area 20, and the touch module 14 switches from the default touchpad mode to stylus mode. At this time, the corresponding backlight module 143 is also illuminated to display the range indicator pattern 22. When the stylus 18 moves away from the sensing range of the touch module 14, the touch module 14 deactivates the stylus mode and switches back to the original touchpad mode, and the backlight module 143 is turned off. Figure 8B As shown, the range indicator pattern 22 is not lit at this time, indicating that the stylus mode has not been activated.

[0038] Please also refer to Figure 1 and Figure 9 As shown, the user sets the detection mode to locked mode through the setting interface 24, and can set one of multiple valid input areas (e.g., left valid input area, middle valid input area, right valid input area) as the enabled area. Here, we take setting the right valid input area 20, located to the right of the touchable area 141, as the enabled area as an example, but this application is not limited to this. A rectangular marker pattern is also selected as the range indicator pattern 22. When the processor 16 sets the detection mode to locked mode and selects the right valid input area 20 as the enabled area, as shown... Figure 10A As shown, when the touch module 14 detects that the stylus 18 is near the enabled area (right valid input area 20), the processor 16 switches the right valid input area 20 from the default touchpad mode to stylus mode, while the remaining areas remain in touchpad mode. At this time, the portion of the backlight module 143 corresponding to the enabled area (right valid input area 20) is also illuminated, displaying the corresponding range indicator pattern 22 on the right. Figure 10B As shown, when the stylus 18 moves away from the sensing range of the touch module 14, the touch module 14 switches back to its original touchpad mode and turns off the backlight module 143. Since this embodiment only sets the right effective input area 20 as the enabled area, the stylus mode cannot be enabled when the touch module 14 detects the stylus 18 approaching the left side of the touchable area 141. Conversely, when the processor 16 sets the left effective input area 20 as the enabled area, the stylus mode will only be enabled when the touch module 14 detects the stylus 18 approaching the left effective input area 20.

[0039] Please also refer to Figure 1 and Figure 11As shown, the user sets the detection mode to automatic mode through the setting interface 24 and selects a rectangular marker pattern as the range indicator pattern 22. In this embodiment, the processor 16 defines at least two valid input areas 20 based on the touchable area 141. Taking two valid input areas 20 as an example, both the left and right valid input areas 20 can be used as enabled areas. After the processor 16 has set the detection mode to automatic mode, as... Figure 12A As shown, when the touch module 14 detects that the stylus 18 is close to the left valid input area 20, the processor 16 enables the left valid input area 20 and controls the touch module 14 to light up the corresponding range indicator pattern 22 on the left, thereby enabling the stylus mode of the left valid input area 20. At this time, the right side remains in touchpad mode (stylus mode is off). Figure 12B As shown, when the touch module 14 detects that the stylus 18 is close to the right valid input area 20, the processor 16 enables the right valid input area 20 and controls the touch module 14 to light up the corresponding range indicator pattern 22 on the right side, thereby enabling the stylus mode of the right valid input area 20. At this time, the left side remains in touchpad mode (stylus mode is off). Therefore, in automatic mode, when the touch module 14 detects that the stylus 18 is close to the left side of the touch module 14, the stylus mode of the left valid input area 20 will be enabled. When the touch module 14 detects that the stylus 18 has moved to the right side of the touch module 14, the stylus mode of the right valid input area 20 will be enabled. However, the left and right valid input areas 20 cannot be enabled simultaneously.

[0040] As mentioned above, since the activation of the stylus mode and the positioning of the illuminated area indicator pattern 22 on the touch module 14 of the electronic device 10 are jointly accomplished by the operating system (OS) within the processor 16 and the touchpad firmware and stylus firmware within the touch integrated circuit 142 of the touch module 14, the complete activation of the stylus mode can also be explained from the system architecture of the processor 16. Please also refer to... Figure 1 and Figure 13 As shown, a stylus firmware 30 and a touchpad firmware 32 are installed in the touch integrated circuit 142 to correspond to the stylus 18 and the touch module 14, respectively. In the processor 16, a stylus driver module 34 is signal-connected to a stylus native driver module 36 and is interfacing with an Inter-Integrated Circuit (IIC). 2C) Bus 38 is connected to the stylus firmware 30 in the touchscreen integrated circuit 142, enabling the stylus signals received by the stylus firmware 30 to be transmitted to the stylus native driver module 36 via the integrated circuit interface bus 38 and the stylus driver module 34 to execute the corresponding stylus mode. A touchpad driver module 40 is connected to a touchpad native driver module 42 and is also connected to the touchpad firmware 32 in the touchscreen integrated circuit 142 via an integrated circuit interface bus 44, enabling the touchpad signals sensed by the touchpad firmware 32 to be transmitted to the touchpad native driver module 42 via the integrated circuit interface bus 44 and the touchpad driver module 40 to execute the corresponding touchpad mode. The stylus driver module 34 is also connected to the touchpad driver module 40, and an application module 46 is connected to both the stylus driver module 34 and the touchpad driver module 40 for signal transmission and communication. A human-machine interface device (HID) service module 48 is also connected to the touchpad driver module 40 to transmit the system status of the electronic device 10 to the touchpad driver module 40.

[0041] Please also refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 13 and Figure 14 As shown in step S10, when the stylus 18 approaches the touch module 14, the entire stylus mode activation process begins. As shown in step S12, the stylus firmware 30 receives the active signal emitted by the stylus 18 and transmits the corresponding active signal's sensing data to the stylus driver module 34 via the integrated circuit interface bus 38. As shown in step S14, the stylus driver module 34 reads the sensing data to determine the location of the stylus 18. Then, as shown in step S16, the stylus driver module 34 confirms whether the location of the stylus 18 is within an enableable area. If the read location is not within an enableable area, as shown in step S18, the touch module 14 does not respond. If the location of the stylus 18 is within the enableable area, steps S20 and S22 are performed simultaneously. As shown in step S20, the stylus driver module 34 notifies the stylus firmware 30 via the integrated circuit interface bus 38 to enable the stylus mode. Simultaneously, as shown in step S22, the stylus driver module 34 notifies the touchpad driver module 40, causing the touchpad driver module 40 to generate a corresponding control command, which is transmitted to the touchpad firmware 32 via the integrated circuit interface bus 44. As shown in step S24, the touchpad firmware 32 then controls the backlight module 143 and its corresponding range marking pattern 22 to be lit according to the control command.

[0042] In one embodiment, please also refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 13and Figure 14 As shown, the human-machine interface device service module 48 in the processor 16 can also detect the background system status and transmit the system status to the touchpad driver module 40 (as in step S22), so that the touchpad driver module 40 can determine whether the touch module 14 should display the range indicator pattern 22 based on the system status. For example, when the touchpad driver module 40 receives a notification from the stylus driver module 34 to light up the backlight module 143, and since the system status received by the touchpad driver module 40 is in normal operation, the touchpad driver module 40 generates a control command to the touchpad firmware 32 to light up the backlight module 143 to display the corresponding range indicator pattern 22 (as in step S24). On the other hand, although the touchpad driver module 40 receives a notification from the stylus driver module 34 to turn on the backlight module 143, the touchpad driver module 40 determines that it will not turn on the backlight module 143 because the system status received by the touchpad driver module 40 from the human-machine interface device service module 48 is in sleep mode. Therefore, it will not send control commands to the touchpad firmware 32, and at this time, there is no display range indicator pattern 22.

[0043] In summary, this application can adjust the position of the effective input area of ​​the stylus by detecting the position of the stylus and switching the stylus function detection mode according to the user's needs. This makes the adjustment of the effective input area more flexible, so that a more convenient layout can be provided when the user uses the stylus, and the location of the effective input area on the touch module can be clearly marked.

[0044] The embodiments and / or implementation methods described above are merely preferred embodiments and / or implementation methods for implementing the technology of this application, and are not intended to limit the implementation methods of the technology of this application in any way. Any person skilled in the art may make some modifications or alterations to other equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the technical means disclosed in this application, but these should still be regarded as the technology or embodiments that are substantially the same as those of this application.

Claims

1. An electronic device suitable for signal connection to a touch pen, characterized in that, The electronic device includes: Display panel, which has a display area; A touch module having a touchable area; as well as A processor, electrically connected to the display panel and the touch module, defines at least one valid input area within the touchable area. When the touch module detects that the stylus is near the valid input area, the processor switches the valid input area from the default touchpad mode to the stylus mode and displays a range indicator pattern within the valid input area. The touch module provides multiple detection modes for the stylus, including an automatic mode. In the automatic mode, the processor defines two valid input areas based on the touchable area. When the touch module detects that the stylus is close to one of the two valid input areas, the processor switches the valid input area that the stylus is close to to the stylus mode and displays the range indicator pattern in the valid input area that the stylus is close to. The other valid input areas remain in the touchpad mode.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The touch module also includes a backlight module to display the range marking pattern.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The various detection modes also include full-area mode and lock mode.

4. The electronic device according to claim 3, characterized in that, In the full-screen mode, the effective input area is equivalent to the touchable area.

5. The electronic device according to claim 3, characterized in that, Each of the valid input areas corresponds to a range marking pattern.

6. The electronic device according to claim 5, characterized in that, In the locked mode, there are multiple valid input areas. The processor selects one of the valid input areas as an enableable area. When the touch module detects that the stylus is close to the enableable area, the enableable area is enabled and the range indicator pattern corresponding to the enableable area is displayed.

7. The electronic device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The processor also provides a setting interface, which is displayed on the display panel, for setting the detection mode and the range indicator pattern.

8. The electronic device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The processor receives a setting request signal generated from the setting interface, and sets and stores the detection mode and the range marking pattern accordingly based on the setting request signal.

9. The electronic device according to claim 7, characterized in that, When the detection mode is set to the lock mode, the processor also sets the location of the valid input area through the setting interface.

10. The electronic device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The processor also controls whether the backlight module should display the range indicator pattern based on the system status.

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